John robinson kelsey



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOIIX ROBINSOX KELSEY, OF BETHNALGREEN, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ASSIGXOR TO IVILLIAM HENRY GREEXIYOOI), OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

MANUFACTURE OF SOFT HATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,734, dated February 26, 1889. Application filed December 19, 1888. Serial No. 294,104. (No specimensd Patented in England September 17, 1888, No. 13,429.

To all whom it may concern.-

sEY, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 209 'Wilmot Street, Bethnal Green, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Soft-Fitting Hats and in the Preparation and Employment of Ingredients for the Purpose of such Manufacture, (patented in Great Britain, No. 13,429, hearing date September 111888,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel method of manufacturing soft-fitting hats, the body being made of felt, of fur, of wool, or the like, or a combination of any of such materials, the object being to preserve flexibility and po' rosity, so that the hat may adapt itself to suit the shape of head without undue pressure. The covering of the hat may be of silk, plush,

merino, tweed, or any other desired 1naterial say Italian cloth or the like.

In order to prepare the body according to my invention, 1 use certain ingredients prepared in a special manner. I first make a combination of, say, six pounds of shellac and two pounds of gum-mastic dissolved in methylated spirits, to which I add two ounces collodion. I take two ounces virgin rubber and dissolve it in a suitable quantity of bisulphide of carbon, to which I add three ounces boiled linseed-oil and thoroughly mix the same. I dissolve one pound of thus by heat and then add sufficieut turpentine to hold it in solution. These three mixtures are then compounded and reduced to any desired strength with methylated spirits. This mixture I call No. l. The hat-bodies are then proofcd with it in the ordinary way.

The body is then blocked, and the tip and brim strengthened by the same composition,

but of greater density; or a robin cut on the bias may be put round the srpiarc, and a cover of calico may be put over the tip, if i preferred;- but: no calico or cover of any kind must be put upon the side crown. In order to support the curl and shape of the brim, a strip of calico cut on the bias may be pulled round the edge to about half the width of the brim. The body is then finished with hot iron and water as when finishing a felt hat.

Be it known that I, JOHN ROBINSON KEL- 1 -ing plush or similar I next prepare four mixtures-"say A, B, C, and D. A is composed of six pounds orange shellac dissolved in liquid ammonia and six quarts of water. B is composed of two pounds mastic and half-pound gum-elimi, and I dissolve these in methylated spirit. 0 is composed of one pound of thus, reduced by heat, and then add sufficient turpentine to hold it in solution. D is composed of two ounces virgin rubber dissolved in bisulphide of carbon, to which I add two ounces collodion. then compound these four mixtures A, B, C, and D. The compounded mixture in lather form is'now brushed onto the body in lieu of the ordinary spirit varnish, andthe plush or other fabric applied as a covering, which is then finished in the ordinary way.

The proportions of the several ingredients given may be slightly varied.

By this invention I dispense with the use of calico for coverings. I also dispense with the usual process of ironing-up hat-bodies with paste or other preparation. I thus ob tain' softness and pliability, so that the hat will adapt itself to different shapes of heads. At the same time I preserve the flexibility and the porosity of the body, which allows the heat to escape.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In the manufacture of soft felt or similar hats, the process herein described of proofing the hat-body, which consists in applying thereto a compound or mixture composed of a solution of shellac, gum-mastic, collodion, rubber, bisulphide of carbon, oil, and turpentine, and subsequently blocking and applyfabric to the proofed body, substantially as setforth.

The process herein described of manufacturing soft felt or similar hats, which consists in preparing and proofing the hat-body,

then blocking the same, then applying thereto a lather mixture composed of a solution of shellac, ammonia, mastic, thus, turpentine, rubber, bisulphido of carbon, and collodion, and finally applying a covering of plush or other fabric, substantially as set forth.

3. The process herein described of manufacturing soft felt or similar hats, which con sists in preparing the hat-body and proofing it by applying thereto acompound ormixture In Witness whereof I have hereto signed composed of a solution of shellac, gum-mastic, my name, in the presence of two subscribing colloclion, rubber, bisulphicle of carbon, oil, Witnesses,this Qetth day of October, 1888. and turpentine, then blocking the body and T T T 5 applying thereto another mixture composed JOID ROBILSOL KELSEY' of a lather solution of shellac, ammonia, mas- 'itnesses: tic, thus, turpentine, rubber, bisulphide of V. H. GREENWOOD, carbon, and collodion, and finally covering 2 110 Fenchu 'rch Sh'eez, London. the same with plush or other fabric, substan- R. CORE GARDNER, IO tially as set forth. 166 Fleet Street, London, England. 

